Debagging:
Sorry, debriefing: this match is starting before all the others because CSKA Moscow are from the future: they're a full three hours ahead of us troglodytes in Blighty. And they probably have better computers than the dinky contraption I'm bashing nonsense into at the moment. Still, isn't this quaint?

Team news:
Arsenal have never won in Moscow and for some reason Arsène Wenger thinks the secret ingredient he's been missing all these years is ... Justin Hoyte. The token, gaff-prone Englishman comes into the back four in place of injured Ivorian Emmanuel Eboué. Theo Walcott has been dropped to the bench, replaced by Alexander Hleb.

The Muscovites, meanwhile, will be buoyed by the return from suspension of their Brazilian strikers Vagner Love and Daniel Carvahlo.

A plea:
"Im keeping up to date on the minute-by-minute before going to the pub next to work, where my girlfriend will be waiting with a beer," boasts Timothy Gibbs. "With no time wasted on getting a drink and small talk I should miss as little of the game as possible. But Im concerned about those two minutes missed while travelling to the pub. Does anyone have any suggestions of how I could avoid missing a potentially crucial part of the game?" What, you mean you don't even have a gooseberry? Sorry, one of those blackberry things?

1 min:
The home side kick-off, Carvalho rolling it to Love. Still nil-all.

2 mins:
Zippy enough opening by the Russians, but they quickly surrender possession and Arsenal begin stroking the ball around. Rosicky attempts to drive to the bye-line but is guided out of play by Berezutsky.

4 mins:
Patchy pushes and prods by both teams as they feel each other up in these opening exchanges. "Ok, Gorby, Havel and the rest brought freedom for millions, but is anyone else nostalgic for European nights away against Eastern Bloc teams?" inquires Gary Naylor, a man after my own heart. Well, hopefully not, actually. Anyway, let's hear him out: "Alan Weekes on Sportsnight's highlights would wax lyrical about 'tough assignments behind the Iron Curtain', the 'Big Red Machine' and 'crack Soviet Outfits'. And it was always foggy. Now it's just Arsenal vs another Abramovich plaything."

5 mins:
Henry slips a dainty ball through to van Persie but Semberas stretches out his right leg to thwart the Dutchman at the last.

8 mins:
Gilberto reacts sluggishly to an underhit pass, allowing his opponent to nip in and set Love scampering into the Arsenal box. But Djourou snuffs out the danger. Meanwhile, tech-savvy Paul McElroy knows two ways out of Tim Gibbs bind: He could download Opera Mini onto his GPRS-enabled mobile," counsels Paul. "Or he could run to the pub.

10 mins:
The hostile home crowd (who in days of yore, as Gary Naylor knows, would all be dressed in military uniforms) are whistling furiously in an attempt to end a two-minute period of Arsenal possession. The Gunners held on to the ball calmly, but without making any inroads into the opposing box.

12 mins:
The useful-looking left midfielder Yuri Zhirkov is causing some havoc on his flank - it's almost as if he's identified Hoyte as a weakness ... but so far CSKA haven't carved out a clear chance. And nor have Arsenal.

For some reason several of you want to know what the weather's like in Moscow. It's a sultry 150 degrees, I suspect, since they're so far ahead of us global warming is much more advanced. Ok, it's dry and mild.

15 mins:
Sweet interplay between Rosicky and Henry before the Frenchman flicks it through to Fabregas, who had surged characteristically into the box. But again the home defence deal with it smartly, Semberas steering the Spaniard out of the danger zone.

17 mins:
Henrys through one-on-one! But hes offside

20 mins:
The Russians are full of vim and vigour but theres a distinct quality-gap between them and their visitors, and Arsenal have rarely looked uncomfortable. After some typically slick passing, the Gunners work an opening for Gilberto, who thanks his team-mates by smashing the ball into the stands from 20 yards.

22 mins:
Nostalgic Mick Deegan would like to add to Gary Naylors list of lovable commentary characteristics from the days of the Iron Curtain. Dont forget dubious temperament, he roars. And commentary via dial telephones. Ah yes, phoning in commentaries, and the line would always crackle wildly whenever the home side threatened to score. Which CSKA certainly havent done tonight. In fact, theyve hardly touched the ball in the last five minutes.

23 mins:
Despite what I just said: there's suddenly some wizardry on the edge of the Arsenal area from Dudu! He feinted and twisted past Gilberto before being chopped down by Djourou. Free-kick from about 19.5 yards.

24 mins:GOAL! CSKA Moscow 1-0 Arsenal Ignashevich rolls it to Carvalho, who hammers it through the wall and into the net! Super strike! Totally against the run of play, but that doesn't stop the crowd going absolutely bonkers. Is this a good time to remind Arsenal fans that CSKA have yet to concede a goal in this season's Champions League?

27 mins:
You might have expected Arsenal to lay siege to the Muscovite goal in search of an equalizer but the exact opposite is happening, and Hoyte has just been forced into the concession of a corner. The big men are coming up from the back as commentators used to say in the days of the Iron Curtain, and still do. Lehmann punches it clear.

28 mins:
Berezutsky sends Zhirkov hurtling down the left with a neat chipped pass. Hoyte manages to catch up with the wideman and bundle the ball out of play, then the referee blunders by awarding Arsenal a kick-out.

30 mins:
Arsenal have been ragged since the goal, and the Russians rampant. Carvalho tests Lehmann with another long-ranger, but this time the keeper manages to tip it over the bar.

32 mins:
Dudu dances past Gilberto in the middle of the park, before Hleb, of all people, crunches into him to take the ball away. Arsenals counter-attack quickly peters out, however. Carvalho Scores KOs Arsenal: I assume thats what CSKA stands for? chortles Gary Naylor, whos penchant for writing to me is rapidly taking on stalker proportions. Fabregas and Rosicky have been invisible since the goal.

34 mins:
Rosicky returns from the wilderness and delivers a decent cross to the back post, where Henry rises well but his header is weak and easily cleared. Meanwhile, one Florian Schick wants to conduct a poll of sorts: "how many of your readers agree with me that Lehmann is a better goalkeeper than David Seaman ever was?"

36 mins:
Wonderful, rapid break by CSKA culminates with Love beating Touré to a low Zhirkov cross and flicking it into the roof of the Arsenal net! But he's fractionally offside, a realisation that rather piddles on the home fans' party.

37 mins:
The ever-menacing Zhirkov scorches past two Arsenal defenders and into the box, where Gilberto manages to knock the ball out for a corner. Djourou heads it clear. And suddenly van Persie is romping into the Moscow half with only two defenders to beat ... Gallas shows tremendous valour to catch up with him and offer support ... and van Persie overhits his pass, allowing the Russians to clear.

42 mins:
Shocking ineptitude by van Persie! Semberas missed his tackle and allowed the Dutchman to saunter towards the six-yard box; the keeper charged out and all van Persie had to do was tap the ball sideways to Henry, who would surely have turned it into the unguarded goal. But instead the Dutchman dithered, and the keeper was able to touch the ball out for a corner. Henry floats the corner over everyone, but Rosicky rushes to retrieve it, then whips the ball back into the six yard box. Touré rises but fails to connect, and the ball fizzes past the post and wide. Regarding Florian Schick, I have a question for him, retorts the irrepressible Gary Naylor. Is he the lost fifth member of Kraftwerk?

Synopsis:
Arsenal have been sluggish. Though they dominated possession for long periods, they rarely looked dangerous. The home side may be limited, but they play with speed and spunk and have been admirably direct. Dudu has looked classy in the middle, where Rosicky and Fabregas have been frequently absent, and Zhirkov has tormented Hleb and Hoyte down the left. Carvahlo is tasty. Maybe an injection of Walcott's pace would liven up the Gunners?

Keeper-ometer:
Lehmann = 444; Seaman = 445.

Florian Schick is talking like the blinkered German I imagine he is, bellows open-minded Michael Probert. I would go as far as to say that Lehmann is one of the worst keepers in the Premier League. Too many football fans believe keeping is about making saves. If thats the case, I am a great keeper. Its about positional play, catching and punching crosses and not being a total psycho, likely to be sent off during every game. Lehmann fails on all counts. Bring back Alex Manninger rather than have Lehmann ... but not Almunia. So remember that, people: Michael Probert, no less, says goalkeeping is not about making saves.

And now for something completely different:
If you go to the main football page on this here site, you'll see that Jose Mourinho railed against Reading in this afternoon's press conference, claiming an ambulance did not arrive for Petr Cech until 30 minutes after it was called last Saturday. I've just received an email from Reading, which reads as follows:

"Mr Mourinho has clearly implied that Reading Football Club did not have the proper medical arrangements in place to provide Petr Cech with the best possible treatment.

We feel it necessary to clearly set the record straight and provide the actual facts of the treatment received by the player.

"Mr Mourinho stated: 'My goalkeeper was 30 minutes in the dressing room after my doctor called for an urgent ambulance, and he had to go in a wheelchair in a lift. I'd like someone to tell me why my goalkeeper had to be for 30 minutes in a dressing room waiting for an ambulance.'

This statement contains very serious factual inaccuracies.

The factual timeline of the afternoons events were as follows:

17.16 The collision between Petr Cech and Stephen Hunt occurred and treatment was provided on the pitch.

17.21 Petr Cech was taken into the dressing room on a stretcher. Chelsea Football Clubs medical staff were in charge of the treatment provided to Cech. At first, they decided that it was not necessary to call an ambulance.

17.40 Cechs condition deteriorated and the Chelsea doctor called for assistance which was immediately raised from the stadium medical control.

17.45 After a brief inspection of Cech, the paramedics called for an ambulance.

17.52 The ambulance arrived at the players entrance.

18.04 The ambulance departed Madejski Stadium.

18.11 The ambulance arrived at the Royal Berkshire Hospital."

So there you have it.

Half-time entertainment update:
I'm pleased to reveal that the music being boomed across the tannoy in Moscow is not Tina Turner's Simply the Best, Robbie Williams' Let Me Entertain You, Queen's We Will Rock You or any other stadium staple. It is, in fact, a power ballad by German heavy metal titans Helloween. Splendid!

46 mins:
Arsenal tip off but quickly lose possession. A long pass from the back is aimed towards Love, who attempts to outmuscle Touré in the box - and goes down theatrically. No penalty, reckons the ref.

48 mins:
Arsenal, who like Moscow made no changes at the break, exert a bit of pressure, but again there's no penetration. Come on! screams Mike Garton. Seaman was one of the worst international goalkeepers in recent history. How often has someone floated the ball over his head and into the net? His diving made him look like a beached whale and he had no reach either. No saves, no positioning and no reaction. Mike, youre being as unnecessarily harsh on Seaman as I was on Michael Probert, whose point I deliberately pretended not to get (yes, he has written me about 100 letters of complaint in the last 15 minutes).

50 mins:
Lovely touch by Fabregas, as Arsenal fizz the ball around the pitch, but all in front of the banked Muscovite defenders. Eventually a Gilberto cross is nodded calmly back to the keeper by Berezutsky.

53 mins:
More trickery from Carvalho, who sneaks between Gallas and Djourou before flipping a fine pass towards Love at the penalty spot. But Touré intervenes with style and hoofs the ball clear. But it quickly comes back, and again Touré reacts brilliantly to deny Love, this time at the expense of a corner. Which Djourou butts clear.

55 mins:
Terrible mistake by Gilberto, who gitts the ball to the increasingly influential Carvalho. The Brazilian races into the box, but is guided quite wide by Gallas, and his shot poses little problem to Lehmann.

58 mins:
Fabregas finds Henry wide on the right with a raking pass from deep. But Henry lets the ball run away from him, and the Russians rip forward anew: they really are wonderfully attack-minded and Arsenal just can't cope with their speed and purposefulness. Re: Lehmann and Seaman - we're going about this all wrong, insists Mandeep Flora. Let's ask who's got the worst haircut? The perma-uber-curl, or the wrong era ponytail complete with facial hair monstrosity? Or who would win in a fight? These are the important questions.

59 mins:
Slack ball in the middle by Rosicky is intercepted by Dudu, who immediately bounds forward and feeds Love. Moscow win yet another corner.

61 mins:
Arsenal try to build form the back but Love and Carvalho harass them and quickly regain possession. Wenger needs to change something quickly.

63 mins:
Another corner for CSKA, as Hoyte is hassled by Carvalho. Henry is back to head it behind. Cue another corner, which Dudu meets. Djourou blocks it but the ball breaks clear around the penalty spot, sparking pandemonium in the Arsenal box. Eventually Touré scrambles it clear.

64 mins:
Arsenal are hanging on! Gallas has just produced last-ditch superb tackle to thwart Love. Another corner. Lehamnn punches clear. Which reminds me: "Never mind the Lehmann versus Seaman debates," fumes Coilin. "Why oh why is the utterly rubbish Manuel Almunia on the bench ahead of Mart Poom." I don't know, Coilin, but it's an excellent question. The Estonian is a fabulous keeper and would be most team's first choice. I'll find out tomorrow and get one of our MBM reporters to pass on my findings. So come back here for tomorrow night's action...

67 mins:
Here comes the cavalry! Well, Emmnauel Adebayor, at any rate. Hes on for the totally ineffective Robin van Persie. If anyones worried Communism may make a comeback, let me tell them that Im writing to you from my flat in Moscow, hollers Paul Taddich bafflingly. Five minutes from my gaff theres a Bentley dealership, a Hugo Boss boutique and a shop that sells $45,000 mobile phones ...

69 mins:
Djourou diverts a Zhirkov cross, but Carvalho gathers it and knocks it back out wide to Zhirkov, whose centre is met by Love. Gallas deflects his shot out for a corner. Zhirkov takes that as his cue to wave his arms at the crowd, urging them to crank the volume up even louder. The atmosphere is outstanding. And Arsenal are teetering ...

72 mins:
"You are ridiculously biased towards Moscow, try to contain yourself, orders Oliver Muldoon. Sorry Oliver, but your boys are taking one hell of a beating and Moscow deserve any praise I may be heaping on them. Theyre playing slick, ultra-fast football and its great to watch. Having said that, Henry has just embarked on a rare break and won a corner

73 mins:
Rosicky knocked the corner short to Hleb, who dinked it inside to Touré. The Elephant shows a surprisingly deft touch, effecting a neat one-two with Henry, before firing the ball across the face of the goal. No one can connect.

75 mins:
An Arsenal goal! Is disallowed. They enjoyed their best spell of possession since early in the first half, with Touré lingering up front and creating all sorts of bother. But when the ball fell to Adebayor, who lobbed it over the keeper and into the net, there were two Gunners offside, including Adebayor. Still, some encouraging signs for the Arse.

77 mins:
Hoyte, of all people, raids down the right flank and, with a wild cross, whacks the ball off the post! Its by far the closest Arsenal have come to a legitimate goal, and it was clearly a fluke.

79 mins:
Arsenal change: Rosicky off, Walcott on.

80 mins:
As Arsenal probe, Fabregas finds Henry wide on the right. The Frenchman's cross is nodded behind for a corner. Which is wasted.

83 mins:
Ignashevich booked for fouling Henry near the half-way line, aborting a nascent attack. Meanwhile, several nosey readers want Paul Taddich to tell them how much rent he pays for his Moscow pad. Fancy feeding these curious cats, Paul?

85 mins:
CSKA change: Love comes off (very, very slowly); Ivica Olic on.Never mind the danger of being branded another blinkered German by someone called Pro-Bert (obviously a Trautmann-fan), blubbers Christian Fandrych. Why on Earth can't Arsenal produce decent corners? Everybody in the world knows how to defend against their terrible short-taken corners these days.

86 mins:
Confusion reigns! A Hail Mary lob from deep into the Russian box is controleld by Henry, who instantly sweeps it past the keeper for the equaliser - but the ref disallows it, apparently under the impression that Henry controlled the ball with his hand. He's wrong. But on the bright side, Henry's disgust is highly amusing.

87 mins:
The home side burst forward for the first time in a while, again through Zhirkov. His exquisite cross is met by Olic, who's just four yards out. But he heads shamefully wide.

89 mins:
Olic makes Gallas look like a fool, turning him one way then the other before picking out Dudu at the edge of the Arsenal box. Dudu slips cleverly past the back-tracking Hleb, but is then dispossessed via a magnificent Fabregas sliding tackle. Paul Taddich, by the way, says this: I pay $700 per month. Such is the irony of living in a city that hosts the highest number of dollar billionaires in the world, yet pays its doctors about 100 quid a month.

90 mins:
Free-kick to Arsena, at the corner of the box. Henry stands over it. The crowd whistle frantically. Henry curls the ball over the wall .. and into the keeper's hands.

92 mins:
Walcott wins a corner. Lehmann comes up for it ... and nearly connected with Fabregas's low centre! But he didn't, and it's walloped clear. Lehmann almost caused a late swing in the voting towards the himself (current findings: Lehmann 14,399; Seaman: 14,399).

94 mins:
Delirium among the crowd as the Spanish ref blows for full-time. Henry and Lehmann converge on the official to complain about the goal that was wrongly disallowed but there can be no disputing that Moscow were the better, more vibrant and cutting side tonight. Their win was merited. Thanks for following this with GU, and for sending in so many emails. Be sure to tune into Mike Adamson for Manchester United v Copenhagen momentarily. Bye.